School board issues open letter regarding curriculum changes

The
Trillium Lakelands District School Board has issued an open letter to
students, staff and parents regarding changes to the public school
curriculum under Ontario’s new provincial government.

“Over
the past several weeks, there has been widespread speculation and
opinion in mainstream and social media about recent decisions by the
newly elected government,” the letter reads. “This includes information
about changes regarding the Health and Physical Education (HPE)
curriculum, mathematics instruction and the cancellation of the
Indigenous Education curriculum writing that was to occur in July. We
want to clarify our position with each of these issues since many are
wondering what September and the upcoming school year holds for us
all.”

Since
his majority win in early June, Premier Doug Ford has announced that a
planned Indigenous curriculum will not proceed, and the PC government
has also revoked the sex ed curriculum put into place by Kathleen
Wynne’s Liberal government in 2015. Until a new curriculum is drafted,
the plan is for students to learn the previous one, which was instituted
in 1998, when they return to school in the fall. However, that plan has
drawn criticism since the old curriculum does not deal with issues such
as consent, gender identity and Internet safety. Ford has said there
will be public consultation in the creation of a new sex ed curriculum.

“With
regard to the HPE curriculum, and more specifically, concerns about the
so called ‘sex ed’ component, we understand an additional review will
be undertaken by the government,” the letter reads. “Reports suggest
4,000 respondents took part in the previous review, which essentially
equates to less than one respondent from every elementary and secondary
school in the province. We will certainly participate in that review if
given an opportunity, and we encourage you to personally engage in any
way you are able. All voices need to be heard on this issue and it is
our hope that the views of TLDSB, our staff, students, and parents will
be given consideration as part of the upcoming review. In the meantime,
our shared responsibility to our students must not be ignored. Teaching
about gender identity, acceptance, and understanding for our LGBTQ
community members, sexual health issues including consent, making
appropriate personal choices, and internet safety must continue at home
and at school. We will continue to seek ways to teach our students these
very important lessons through the various curriculum guidelines we
follow. We will of course respect the direction the government has
chosen to take, always remembering that the curriculum guidelines in any
subject are viewed as a starting point to teaching, learning, and
assessment and that there are always additional avenues we can follow.”

Ford
has also promised to change Ontario’s “discovery math” curriculum,
which focuses on critical thinking about mathematical concepts, putting
concept before procedure. Discovery math has been criticized by some,
and standardized test scores in math have dropped throughout the
province during the past several years.

“In
mathematics we, like many other boards, continue to struggle on
standardized assessments,” the letter reads. “It is important to
remember that external assessments are intended to be a snapshot of
student achievement. We will continue to place our confidence in daily
and ongoing assessments in our classrooms by our teachers who know our
students best. We will continue to seek greater balance in our
instruction. This may mean additional practice opportunities for
students, balanced with appropriate amounts of group and independent
problem solving. To suggest one size or strategy will solve our math
challenges would be irresponsible and is not something we have
historically done in TLDSB. Our curriculum services teams will continue
to build on our work in mathematics, and continue participation in
professional learning opportunities that come our way.”

The letter also indicates that Indigenous education will continue within the area served by the board.

“In
TLDSB we have made enormously positive strides with regard to
Indigenous education,” it reads. “This is something we are very proud
of, and will not retreat from.”

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